Last Updated on August 24, 2024
Top Picks for the Best Summer Tires
If you’re like the average driver, you might not know the difference between summer and all-season tires. Both are designed to serve specific functions and can impact your driving experience differently regarding performance, handling, and safety.
In this buyer’s guide, we’ll help you navigate this decision by exploring the differences between summer tires and all-season tires. This will allow you to make an informed choice for your driving needs. Discover the best option for your vehicle and your summertime adventures.
When choosing the right tires for your vehicle, the debate between summer and all-season tires is standard. Each has its own set of advantages and considerations.
What Are Summer Tires, and When Do You Need Them?
Let’s start by diving right into summer tires and their unique components. Tires designed for “summer” have a specific rubber compound that provides excellent grip on wet and dry roads in warmer temperatures.
These tires are typically quiet, even on highways. They’re made to maximize contact with the road, giving drivers greater control, stability, and braking capabilities when the roads are dry and hot or wet during summer rains. They have wide channels that quickly move water away from the tire and help keep the tire cool on the hottest summer days.
Because these tires are designed for warm seasons, they aren’t suitable for winter driving conditions. This includes driving in snow, ice, sleet, slush, and temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius). The rubber in the tires was not made to stay flexible during cooler temperatures, and driving on summer tires becomes a potential safety risk.
What Are the Best All-Season Tires? Are They a Good Replacement for Summer Tires?
All-season tires are built to provide performance in all weather conditions. We typically recommend all-season tires to people in climates with relatively mild winters and summers.
An all-season tire provides everything you need regarding performance—as long as temperatures don’t get extremely hot or cold. These versatile tires suit the needs of many drivers and the conditions they drive in.
All-season tires typically last longer than summer tires and reduce the need for frequent tire changes as the seasons come.
However, it would be best to keep unremembered-season tires, as they will not provide as good a hand in extreme heat as summer tires. If you experience intense summers, you may want to invest in a more specialized tire.
Summer vs. All-Season Tires
| Summer Tires | All-Season Tires | |
| Structure | Less tread depth, wide tread blocks | Moderate tread depth, more defined tread blocks |
| Optimal Temperature | Above 45 degrees F | 30 degrees F and above |
| Rubber Compound | Complex rubber compounds that soften in heat | Mild rubber compounds engineered for long life & varying temperatures |
| Grooves | Wide circumferential | Reasonable, often combined with siping |
| Traction | Strong, responsive grip | Solid, stable grip in varying seasons |
| Tread Life | About 25K miles | About 60K miles |
| Best Suited For | High-performance vehicles | Passenger cars & CUVs |
So, what’s the difference between summer tires and all-season tires? We know that one handles warmer weather more expertly, but why?
Decoding the Differences: Summer Tires vs. All-Season Tires
The big difference is the tread compounds. Summer tires are made with blends of rubber, silica, and polymers that are designed to handle high heat and continue to grip the road. Unlike all-season tires, those compounds are not designed to stay flexible and provide traction during freezing temperatures.
The other significant difference is in the tread depths. Summer tires have shallower tread depths, and the tread patterns are optimized for traction and low rolling resistance. You will also notice the wide circumferential grooves that evacuate water to resist hydroplaning quickly.
The tread design is typically more extensive and continuous – and the tires are commonly built with flexible sidewalls for extra contact with the road. The lack of siping designed for snow grip makes them unsuitable for snowy/icy conditions, and the rubber compounds found in summer tires harden during freezing temperatures.
On the other hand, all-season tires have deeper treads that allow for relatively good moisture evacuation and grip on varying surfaces. They’re designed to provide good traction in both the winter and summer. Most all-season tires can handle frigid temperatures, but they don’t handle scorching temperatures as well as summer tires.
The most significant benefits are a comfortable ride, a long lifespan, and versatility in the different seasons. Undoubtedly, all-season tires are often the easier option because they can be used year-round, but they aren’t as specialized at handling summer temperatures and conditions.
Which Tires Are Best for Me?
The decision between good summer tires and all-season tires depends on where you live, what you expect to encounter on the roads, and how you drive your vehicle.
Will you experience mild temperatures year-round that are in between hot and cold? Then, you probably don’t want to worry about storing summer tires and switching to winter tires. Do you experience sweltering summers where the pavement cracks under the sun? Summer tires might be your best bet for the optimum driving experience.
If you’re unsure, talk to a tire expert – like us! We’ll guide you to the right choice for your climate, vehicle, and driving habits.
Best Summer Tires
1. Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
This is one of those extreme summer tires you’ll see on high-end cars. Its adaptation to wet and hot summer roads provides ultra-precise steering and great cornering power, maximizing the potential of any sports car.
Features:
- Flexible, specialized rubber compounds
- Sound-absorbing foam in the inner liner
- Cord filament for strength and tension balance
- Reinforced steel belts that enhance speed handling
This tire was built with several features that reduce cabin noise and promote a comfortable driving experience. It also handles wet surfaces well with a silica-infused wet compound that improves braking capabilities. The tire’s warranty covers the first 30K miles or six years – whatever comes first.
The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S is commonly seen on ultra-high-performance vehicle brands like Mercedes, Porsche, Ferrari, and BMW.
Price: This tire’s price starts at $193. It receives an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
2. Bridgestone Potenza RE
If you’ve read a summer tires review that indicates they don’t handle wet surfaces well, meet the Potenza RE. This summer tire is excellent at channeling water out of the footprint area to improve resistance to hydroplaning – and it’s aesthetically pleasing, too.
Features:
- Circumferential grooves that facilitate optimal performance
- A tread pattern that varies from shoulder to shoulder
- Stealth blocks to enhance cornering performance
- Asymmetric construction to improve water evacuation
Although the Potenza RE-11 offers motorsports-level performance, this extreme summer tire surprisingly minimizes noise levels. It provides a fantastic grip on wet and dry roads and is one of the top choices for people driving in hot climates.
Usually, this tire’s warranty covers the first 30K miles or six years of use, whichever comes first.
Typically, drivers purchase this tire for sports cars and high-performance vehicles that could use improved handling during the summer months. You’ll often see them on Corvettes.
Price: This tire’s price starts at $257. It receives an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars.
3. Michelin Pilot Super Sport
One of the best tires for hot climates, the Michelin Pilot Super Sport is a maximum-performance summer tire. This is one of the best options if you want tire technology that makes your vehicle safer and increases performance.
Features:
- Comparatively lightweight
- Reinforced by steel belts for high-speed handling
- Notched center ribs
- Asymmetric design
Like the other Michelin tires on this list, this tire has sound-absorbing foam in the inner liner, which reduces cabin noise and makes for a more comfortable ride.
Because this tire was initially put on the Ferrari 599 GTO, the fastest road car ever, it is no surprise that it’s commonly used by people who drive high-performance vehicles. It typically comes with a warranty that covers the first 30K miles or six years – whatever comes first.
Price: This tire starts at $104. It has an average rating of 5 out of 5 stars.
4. Continental ExtremeContact Sport
Have you been researching some of the best budget summer tires? Then you’ve undoubtedly seen this popular option on a few lists. It’s been recognized repeatedly for its luxurious ride and appearance but relatively low price tag.
Features:
- Five-rib design (sometimes six for other sizes)
- Deep circumferential grooves to keep water flowing
- Casing ply that supports steel belts
- Optimized footprint for evenly distributed pressure
Despite its extreme handling capabilities, this tire provides a refined ride with minimal noise disruption. It can be used in dry and wet conditions, not freezing temperatures.
Sedan or sports coupe drivers commonly buy the Continental ExtremeContact Sport tire. Because it has excellent fuel efficiency, tread life, and handling, it’s a great choice for people who want to take their driving experience to the next level while staying safe. The tire has a warranty covering the first 30K miles or six years – whatever comes first.
Price: This tire starts at $110. It has an average rating of 5 out of 5 stars.
5. Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position
Often ranked among the best summer tires under $200, the Ponteza S-04 Pole Position is specifically designed for those who want excellent function in wet and dry conditions during the warm months.
Features:
- Circumferential ribs beside the inside shoulder blocks
- Straight-line braking forces
- Slanted lateral grooves to prevent hydroplaning
- Innovative asymmetric tread pattern
- Silica-rich performance compound
You’ll often see this tire on high-performance sports cars and sedans. It has excellent braking capabilities, which make for fun (and safe) handling experiences. Plus, the design of the inside shoulder blocks prevents the road noise from being much of a nuisance, even as the tires age.
Remember that this tire does not have a tread life warranty—only an artistry and materials warranty for the first five years.
Price: This tire starts at $136. It has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars.
6. Firestone Firehawk Indy 500
Many readers will be excited to learn that this high-performance summer tire was developed with racing-inspired technology. It can handle wet and dry conditions without a hitch and take turns like no other – which is surprising considering its relatively low price.
Features:
- Silica-enhanced compound
- Aggressive-looking asymmetric tread design
- Center circumferential grooves to evacuate water
- Two additional circumferential grooves to provide short stopping distances
- High-turnup polyester casting beneath steel belts
- Nylon reinforcements for steady handling
Typically, you’ll see sports car drivers, coupe drivers, and sedan owners install this tire. They want to maximize their driving pleasure while keeping their vehicle and passengers safe if it offers low noise on most pavement types and excellent straight-line acceleration.
This tire has no tread life warranty – only an artistry and materials warranty for the first five years.
This tire’s price starts at $98. It receives an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars.
7. BFGoodrich g-Force Sport Comp 2
When evaluating summer performance tires, we can’t ignore the BFGoodrich g-Force Sport Comp 2. This tire has attracted experienced drivers for years and is designed to offer fast acceleration and excellent cornering.
Features:
- Silica-infused COMP-2 compound derived from racing technology
- Twin, high-tensile steel belts reinforced with ETEC
- Spirally wound nylon to stabilize the tread area
- g-Control sidewall inserts
- Directional tread design with stable shoulder blocks
Considering that this tire has been used on race cars and in racing schools, it’s no surprise that high-end sports and performance car drivers typically seek after it. It’s designed for sports cars, sporty coupes, performance sedans, and modern muscle cars.
This tire has no tread life warranty but a uniformity warranty for the first year and an artistry & materials warranty for the first six years.
Price: This tire starts at $107. It has an average rating of 5 out of 5 stars.
8. Nitto NT555 G2
Ready to push the limits of your sports car? This tire might be the right summer option for you. It has excellent traction, handling, and wet-braking capabilities. Additionally, its predictable braking makes it easy to stop on a dime.
Features:
- Large, rigid tread blocks
- Wide-open lateral grooves for water evacuation and wet handling
- High-percentage silica tread compound
- Special bonding agent that allows for better cornering
- Twin center ribs for increased dry traction and straight-line stability
Although people enjoy this tire’s excellent handling capabilities, some reviewers note a higher level of added noise while driving. You might experience extra humming and growling, regardless of the speed at which you travel.
This tire has a life warranty but a deformity warranty until the tire reaches 1/32″ even wear.
Price: This tire’s price starts at $124. It receives an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars.
9. Bridgestone Potenza RE760 Sport
We must list this best summer performance tire – many reviewers have nothing but good things to say about it. It’s a durable option that can survive nasty potholes while maximizing your driving experience in wet and dry conditions.
Features:
- Asymmetrical tread design
- Ultra-high-performance tread compound
- Computer Optimized Component System
- Steel belts reinforced by spirally wrapped nylon to stabilize the tread area
- Stiff outer sidewall to strengthen steering responses
This tire is typically purchased by drivers of high-performance sedans who want to maximize their driving pleasure without sacrificing tire longevity. It’s great for functionality, traction, and low noise levels in city and highway driving.
The tire has a life warranty but a deformity warranty until the tire reaches 2/32″ even wear. It also has an artistry and materials warranty that covers the first five years.
Price: This tire’s price starts at $74. It receives an average rating of 5 out of 5 stars.
10. Federal 595 Evo
This tire has several outstanding elements working in its favor: an aggressive-looking tread pattern, a technologically advanced design, and excellent handling capabilities on wet and dry roads.
Features:
- Large solid shoulder blocks for excellent grip
- Large circumferential grooves to enhance surface print
- Exceptional water dispersion capabilities
- Unique 2-in-1 pitch alignment pattern to reduce noise levels
This is one of the cheapest summer performance tires on the market. For its price, it offers surprisingly low noise, excellent handling, and a long tread life. Most reviewers have nothing but good things to say about the Federal 595 Evo, especially considering its reasonable price tag.
The tire has a limited tread warranty and is commonly purchased by Lincolns, BMWs, Mercedes, and Chevrolets drivers.
Price: This tire’s price starts at $55. It receives an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Best All-Season Tires
1. Achilles 868 All-Seasons
The newest Achilles performance tire was designed for maximum traction in all seasons. It’s primarily known for providing increased winter capabilities compared to other best all-season tires, which typically don’t handle expertly in ice or snow.
Features:
- Large shoulder block for strength
- Four wide circumferential grooves for superb water channeling
- Asymmetrical tread pattern
- Fully-siped and reinforced tread for stability
This tire is long-lasting and perfect for sedans, compact cars, and crossover vehicles. Drivers praise it for its excellent cornering abilities and precise steering responses. The tire comes with a 50K mile limited treadwear warranty.
Price: This tire’s price starts at $80. It receives an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars.
2. Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS
Are you looking for the best all-season tires that handle speed well? Check out this option from Bridgestone. It takes well in dry and wet conditions and even in light snow. Every aspect of the tire is made to improve your fast driving experience in any weather.
Features:
- Asymmetric tread design
- High sipe density
- Snow ridge walls
- 3D full-depth sipes
Often chosen by drivers of luxury vehicles, sporty coupes, and sedans, this Bridgestone tire drives well on any road, even when wet or dry. Reviews often praise the noise-optimized tread pattern, which improves the overall driving experience.
It comes with a 50K tread life warranty, a uniformity warranty until 2/23″ wear, and a five-year artistry and materials warranty.
Price: This tire starts at $131. It has an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars.
3. Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack
This Bridgestone tire is built for high-powered luxury cars. It’s been heralded for its long life, luxury feel, and quiet presence on roads of all kinds.
Features:
- In-groove quiet tracks
- Non-chamfered shoulder slots
- Optimized pitch sequencing (to reduce airborne noise)
- Wide circumferential grooves and shoulder slots
- Interlocking grooves with biting edges
As one of the quietest all-season tires currently on the market, this Bridgestone option is trendy. It blends expert handling with a smooth, quiet ride for a confident driving experience on many different kinds of vehicles.
This tire has an 80K tread life warranty, uniformity warranty until 2/23″ wear, and five years of artistry and materials warranty.
Price: This tire starts at $158. It has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4. Achilles ATR Sport 2
This directional all-season performance tire gives drivers the traction they’ve been dreaming of. It’s incredibly stable and grips wet and dry roads well, even at high speeds.
Features:
- Matric technology on inner tread blocks
- Directional tread design
- Four wide circumferential grooves
- Added silica content to grip wet pavement
This Achilles tire is built for sport coupes and sedans and has enhanced steering responses and stability. Its design reduces the risk of hydroplaning in wet weather, and its road grip is better than many other tires on the market.
This tire has a uniformity warranty until 2/23″ wear and six years of artistry and materials warranty.
Price: This tire starts at $52. It has an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars.
5. Ironman iMove Gen2 AS
Are you looking for longer tread life and reliability in your all-season tire? The Ironman has you covered. It was built using a next-gen wear-resistant compound, so you can trust that this tire will last for years.
Features:
- Enhanced tread block geometry
- Circumferential and longitudinal grooves
- Asymmetric tread design
- Wear-resistant compound
You’ll usually find the Ironman iMove Gen2 AS on passenger cars like sedans. It’s reasonably priced, produces little noise, and looks lovely on almost any vehicle. It also comes with a 60-month protection policy, as an underage under the Road Hazard Protection Program, that lets you replace the tire for up to two years.
Price: This tire’s price starts at $102. It receives an average rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars.
6. Milestar MS932 Sport
Designed with all-season comfort, this tire is as attractive as it is dependable on the road. It gives average traction in light snow but shows its power in wet and dry circumstances.
Features:
- Optimized tread design
- Rounded shoulders with larger tread blocks
- Wide circumferential grooves
- Added sipes around the tread
- Twin steel-belted construction for extra strength
Performance ratings (rating, warranty, performance, ride comfort, noise)
This tire comes with a 50K tread life warranty and is ideal for drivers of modern sedans, sport sedans, CUVs, and sports coupes. Its advanced silica tread compound allows excellent handling and better treadwear in many kinds of weather.
Price: This tire’s price starts at $57. It receives an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars.
7. Nexen N’Priz AH5
This tire brings comfort, expert handling, and excellent traction into one package. You’ll get the dependable performance you hope for in one of the lowest-priced, best-rated all-season tires.
Features:
- Symmetric design
- Large circumferential grooves
- All-season tread compound
- Rigid outside shoulder blocks
- Continuous center rib casing
Despite its low price, this tire is surprisingly quiet and will last for years. It works well for everyday use and is often purchased by coupes, sedans, minivans, and crossover drivers.
Price: This tire starts at $43. It has an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars.
8. Cooper CS5 Grand Touring
Designed to maximize all-season handling and traction, this tire has been praised for its surprisingly low noise. It gives you all the handling responsiveness you need and aids high-speed durability.
Features:
- Single-ply polyester casting
- Asymmetric pattern
- Coupled silica compound
- Side-to-side rotation patterns
- Biting edges for grip in snow
Developed for coupes, sedans, and crossovers drivers, this Cooper tire performs better than most all-season tires in snow. Drivers praise its excellent traction, low noise level, and durability.
This tire has an 80K tread life warranty, an artistry and materials warranty, and a uniformity warranty until 2/23″ wear.
Price: This tire starts at $62. It has an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars.
9. Goodyear Eagle RS-A
Want an all-season tire that’s as sporty as it is durable? This Goodyear tire might be your best option with its attractive appearance and excellent handling capabilities.
Features:
- Asymmetric tread design
- Wide lateral grooves
- Four circumferential grooves
- Added lateral grooves
- Two nylon-reinforced steel belts
Quiet and relatively dependable, these tires do well in most weather, although reviewers sometimes state that they’re not as strong in wet conditions as some other all-season tires.
This Goodyear tire is commonly seen on sports cars, sporty couches, and high-performance sedans. It doesn’t come with a tread life warranty but does include a uniformity warranty for the first year and an artistry and materials warranty for the first six years.
Price: This tire starts at $62. It has an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars.
10. Mastercraft Avenger G/T
Last but certainly not least, we have the Mastercraft Avenger G/T. It may have an old-school appearance, but it’s designed to perform expertly in many different types of weather. You’ll be impressed by its enhanced handling capabilities and its boosted treadwear.
Features:
- Optimized tread pitch sequence to reduce road noise
- Shoulder slots designed to improve traction
- Solid center rib
- Refined tread elements
This might not be the highest “performance” tire on the market, but it is ideally suited for those driving older vehicles that could use some extra “oomph.”
The tire comes with a 50K tread life warranty. It’s typically seen on older muscle cars and even trucks, and many drivers who choose it love the classic design and aggressive tread pattern.
Price: This tire starts at $45. It has an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars.
Conclusion
With summer finally approaching, it’s time to consider adjusting your tires. Hopefully, this guide has given you a clearer idea of how summer tires differ from all-season and which is right for you!
Are you looking for an all-season or summer tire for the warmer months? Let Tires Easy point you toward the right choice for your vehicle and driving habits!
FAQs
How long do summer tires last?
Generally speaking, summer tires don’t last as long as best all-season tires. After driving roughly 20K to 25K miles on a set of summer tires, you’ll need to inspect them for wear and possibly find replacements.
When should I buy summer tires?
We recommend purchasing your summer tires in April and keeping them on until around October. This period might vary depending on where you live.
When should you replace summer tires?
When you bend down to measure the tread depth of your summer tire, if it’s at 2/23″ or lower, you’ll need to replace it ASAP. This typically occurs after about 25K miles.
Are summer tires good in the rain?
The short answer is “yes,” you can use summer tires in the rain since this is one of their most vital features. The longer answer is that summer tires perform well on dry and wet roads because they offer superb braking and cornering and quickly move water away from the tire to prevent hydroplaning. So, if you’re worried that only an all-season tire will provide traction on wet roads, don’t fret; summer tires have you covered.
How do summer tires perform in the snow?
Summer tires are not designed to perform in the snow. The tread designs and rubber compounds used in them are not optimized for grip in freezing temperatures. The lack of biting edges and siping makes them a poor choice for winter driving.
Do summer tires wear faster?
All-season tires usually have a longer lifespan than summer or winter tires, but they aren’t as specialized for certain kinds of weather.
What is a good all-season tire?
A good all-season tire should provide strong traction in wet, dry, and lightly snowy conditions. Some are better at this than others – but overall, any “good” AS tire will get you where you need to be in various weather conditions and offer long mileage.
Are summer tires quieter than all-season?
Summer tires can be quieter than All Season and vice versa. It all depends on the individual brand and style of the tire and the manufacturer’s emphasis on designing the tire to be silent on the road. The unique tread patterns and rubber compounds affect road noise significantly. If you are looking for super soft and comfortable, you might look for an all-season touring tire.
How long do best all-season tires last?
As a general rule of thumb, you’ll know when to replace all-season tires when they reach 60K miles. Your driving habits and the number of miles you drive each year greatly impact the length of time an all-season tire will last. Some all-season tires have an 80k mileage warranty, while others have only 50k, so pay close attention to the mileage warranty when purchasing your tires if long wear is one of your main criteria in a tire.
